Apparatus for extracting oil from oleaginous material.



J. E. MILLS. APPARATUS P0P. BXTRAGTING oIL PROM oLEAGINoUs MATERIAL. APPLICATION FILED NOV. 25, 1908.

I 1,005,733. Patented 001;.'10,1911.

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APPARATUS FOR EXTRAGTING OIL FROM OLBAGINOUSMATLRIAL.

APPLICATION FILED NOV. 25, 1908.

1,005,783. Patented oet. 1o, 1'911.

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` APPARATUS PoR EXTRAOTING OIL PROM OLEAGINOUS MATERIAL.

APPLICATION FILED NOV. 25, 1908.

Patented 0011.10.1911.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

V/f lt/MMM Jn/ M/ JAMES E. MILLS, OF

CHAPEL HILL, NORTH CAROLINA, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-FOURTH TO H..B. BATTLE, F MONTGOMERY, ALABAMA.

APPARATUS FOR EXTRACTING OIL FROM OLEAGINOUS MATERIAL.

locates.

Specification of Letters Patent.

`Patented Oct. 10, 1911.

Application led November 25, 1908. Serial No. 464,478.

-To all whom it may concern:

Be it known thatl, JAMES E. MILLS, a citizen of the United States, residing at Chapel Hill, in the county of Orange and State of North Carolina, have Vinvented certain new and useful Improvements in Apv paratus for Extracting Oil4 from Oleaginous Material; and I do hereby declare the following to be a`` full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

This'invention relates to an apparatus for.

extracting oil or fat from cotton seed, its

meats, or meal, or from other oleaginous seeds or materials, by the use of a solvent such as carbon tetrachlorid, tetrachlorethane, pentachlorethane, vor perchlorethane, or other-heavyV solvent which is specifically heavier than the material to be extracted, and the object of the invention is to produce `such an apparatus as will be more e'icient for its purpose, and lessexpensive to operate than heretofore.

Among the many forms of extracting apparatusf which have been known prior to this invention, there are none which have been suitably designed to utilize certain natural laws more fully detailed below, and which come into action when the 4specific gravity of the solvent used for the extraction is greater than that of the material from which the oil is to be extracted. 'Vhen such specific gravity obtains the oleaginous material, if mixed with the solvent, will rise more or less rapidly to the -top of the said solvent, andthe latter more or less saturated with the extracted oil can be made to collect at the bottom of the container. It is evident,

therefore, that in an apparatus suitably arranged the oleaginous material may be introi forming a part of this specification:

Figure 1 represents an Ielevational view, partly in section, of one form of the invention, Fig. 2 a sectional detail view taken on the line 2 2 of Fig. 1, with certain parts omitted, 3 a sectional elevational detail view showing a modified form of apparatus for removing the exhausted material from the extraction chamber, Fig. 4 alike view of another modified means for removing the exhausted material, Fig. 5 a sectional view on the line 5 5 of Fig. 4, and Figs. 6 and 7 are sectional, elevational viewsl of modified means of removing the oil and solvent from the extraction chamber. Like numerals refer to like parts in all the views.

1 represents a suitable hopper into which the material whose oil is to be extracted is delivered, and 2 a suitable passage through which it may be forced by the reciprocating plunger 3, into the extraction chamber 4.

.chamber is provided with a main inlet 7 for the solvent, and an outlet 8 for the solvent and extracted oil.

of said chamber is the shaft 9, provided Passing along the axis with paddles 10, revolved by the power gear The paddles may or may not be unequally spaced along the shaft, as desired, and between the same the said shaft is provided kwith the mixers or stirrers 13, all for a purpose that will lpresently appear. The chamber 4 is or may be further provided with a cooling coil 14, a rotatable screen 15, anda collecting chamber 1G for the solvent and extracted oil, as shown.

represents a pump or other means for raising the oil and solvent to the still 18 through the pipe 19, while 2O represents la steam inlet, 21 an oil outlet, and 22 a delivery from the still 18v to the collecting tank 23.

24 represents a" storage tank for the solvent connected to the collecting tank 23, by

'the pipe 25, and 26 a spraying means for the solvent connected to the inlet 7.

- A'connection 27 .from the delivery 22 leads to the pipe 30 which connect's with the pas` sage 3],v in the bottom of the conveyer press erably provided with a screw 33, driven by chamber 4, having first met the solvent more material .almost exhausted of its oil, and

y the most difiicult to remove from the mavthan steam, -those that are liberated from lshown at 6, and this cake prevents said 32, as shown;4 This conveyer press is prefthe gear 34, and a perforated bottom 35,

while the screw leads into: the top of the' extraction chamber,.as illustrated. It is also provided with a delivery 37, v leading into the drier 38, which is inclined as shown and provided with a screw 39 driven'by the gear 40.' The shaft 41 on which screw 39 is mounted is hollow` and connects with thel steam inlet 42, and outlet 43. Said drier is also providedwith the steam jacketA 44, having the steam inlet 45, and-outlet 46; while 47 represents a hot .water supply passing through said jacket into said drier, and 48 a delivery exit through which the exhausted material passes out of the apparatus.

Since the vapors of the solvent are heavier the exhausted material in the drier 38, will descend, and a pipe 50 leads the same to the condenser 5,17 provided with the cold water outlet 52 and inlet 53, as shown. These vapors are condensed in the coil 54, and at 55 are returned to the .tank 23.

The operation of the apparatus so far described isas follows The oleaginous material suitably prepared isl caused to enter the hopper 1, whereupon it is forced by the reciprocating plunger 3 through the passage 2 into the-extracting chamber 4, beneath the solvent therein; the action being sufficiently rapid and the passage 2 suiiciently restricted to cause the material to form a cake, as

solvent from leaking out. The material being lighter than the solvent, will tend to rise in the chamber 4, but is partially restricted by theppaddles l0, for a ipurpose that will appearbelow, and finally reaches the top of or less saturated with oil from the material that has passed before, and having as it legga; came more and more exhausted of oil `successively met purerV andv purer layers -of solvent. There ore the fresh and preferably hotsolvent at first comes in contact with thereupon exerts its most powerful action on v the last remaining portions of oil which are terial. The oleaginous' material V- is nearly free from oil when it arrives at the top of the chamber, and it is subjected at once to the screw 33, and the solvent to ether with more or less oil is squeezed there om. This solvent and oil is allowed to pass through the perforated bottom 35 of the press into the channel 31 and back into the chamber 4. To aid this passage, solvent in the form of vapor or liquid is or may be admitted throughthe pipes 27 and 30. p

In order to grind up the slighlty compacted cake of meal at the upper-end of the screw, there' is provided the perforated septum 33, through which the meal is forced, and on theshaft of the screw is located th revolving prongs 33,.which serve to break up the compacted mealy as it enters the passa e 37. The material next -asses into the drler 38 where it is subjecte to a temperature suiiciently high to evaporate the solvent still remainin on the same, and the vapors of the said solvent are returned through'the pipe 50 to the condenser 51, as above st-ated. The material passes upwardly through `the drier, as shown in order to aid the heavy vapors to descend, and the screw 39 does not extend along the shaft at 60, in. order that aslightly compacted cake 61 may be there formed, and consequently prevents the vapors from passing out of the exit 48. The passage for the material is slightly reduced at this point, as shown, to aid in this action. Hot 'water is, or may be sprinkled on the material through pipe 47 in order lthat its evaporation may more effectually dislodge the solvent it still contains; and live steam may enter at 47. The solvent lmore or less saturated with oil passes through the pivoted filter 15, into the settling chamber 16, from which it is forced through-the pipe 19 to the still 18,'Wher'e theA 1Q% of oil, the mixture of' oil and solvent will be specifically lighter than the hot and pure tetrachlorid entering at the top of the chamber 4, and undesirable counter curregts would commence, 'were it not for the 'estraining action of the paddles 10. But these paddles'are mounted at such an angle and are revolved at such aspeed that these counter currents are prevented by layers of material formed underneath the paddles,

while the stirrersinsure an intimate contact between the solvent andmaterial, Land also prevent the same from', clogging.` The said layers of material offer a materialobstruction to any counter currents that might form the layers at the bottom op osing the most highly saturated .and there ore the lightest vmixture of solvent and oil.. -Also thecooling coil 14 may be employed, when desired,

to keep the solvent at a temperature that will prevent counter currents.

The shaft 9 instead-of extending` only* partially through the chamber 4, may pass out of the top of the vessel, as shown in Figs. 3 and 4, and it may have its power applied at any suitable point so'long as it does not interfere with the 'passage of the material, or it may be operated from the gear 11 located at the bottom of the chamt sired.

When the amount ofsolvent throughthe main supply 7 is insufficient, an additional quantit may be admitted through the pipe v 66; an 'of course additional supplies Iinthe form of va or can rbe admitted under control throug .the pipes 27 and 30.

IThe. uncondensed vapors in the extracting chamber 4, may escape through'the pipe 67, and pass up into the coil 54V of the condenser 51, whence they will be returned in a liquid state to thev tank 23.

Instead of drawing the exhausted material into the conveyerpress 32 by the screw 33, as abovedescribed, the same may be caused to enter said press by means of the nozzles 28, ,set preferably longitudinally to the circumference of the extraction chamber 4; the action of course being yaided by the paddles 10, and the screw 33',y as illus.- -trated in Fig. 3.

The jets 28 are fed by the pipe 30, which "may be joined to the pipe 27 at its juncture with the pipe 30, as illustrated in Fig. 3. Or, as shown in Figs. 4 and 5, the top of the chamber 4, may be provided with the constricted passage 72and the shaft 9 withA the paddles 73, and the screw 75 may extend through and along the said passage 72 and draw the material into the press, in the manner above disclosed.

In Fig. vl the filter 15 separates the mixture of solvent and oil from the finely ground'particles of material, as the said mixture passes int-o the chamber 16, and since said filter is pivotally mounted as shown, it may be turned from time to time onits axis, -by means of the handle 76, in

order to clear it of finely divided material.`

'Ifile modification shown in Fig. 7, however, shows how the chamber 16 may be dispensed with. Here the collection chamber 77 is provided, which is connected by means of vthe pipe 78 with 4the bottom of the extrac., tion chamber 4. In this form of apparatus,`-

the paddles and layers of material, with the proper regulation of the temperature as described, will aid in keeping the mixture of oil and solvent at the bottom of vchamber 4. Said mixtureunder the action of gravity, when permitted vby the stop cock 78, will 'pass into the reservoir 77, whence it is re-v y moved bythe pump 17 through the pipe 19 1tothe still, as above disclosed. In the modi- .ficatiolu shown in F ig. 6, the collection chamber 16 is likewise done away with, and the solvent and oilis drawn by any suitable -means into the filter press 80, through the pipes 82 and 83 to any suitable separator.

A In all the forms it will be observed that therevoccursz-first .a separation of the oleaginous material more or less exhausted of oil near the top ofthe extraction'chamben 'r whence it maybe removed by suitable machinery for further treatment; and` second, a separation of the solvent, more or less saturated with vthe extracted fat or oil,'near I the bottom of said compartmentor chamber, whence it may be likewise removed for further treatment.' Under 'the term oleaginous material I mean to include especially 1orv cotton seed, its meats, or meal, or'any other oil or fat bearing material possessing Athe heavier than the material whose oil is to be 1 extracted.

4For the same material and the same solvent therapidity of the extraction of the oil will depend not alone on the temperature of the solvent, which in the apparatus disclosed may be varied to suit the conditions,

but, also, on the fineness of division of the oleaginous material. Furthermore, the more finely divided particles of material willlrise more slowly through the solvent than will the coarser ground particles,` and some are liable to pass out with the mixture of oil andl solvent, unless special precautions are taken. Especially is this the case, when the seed are ground very fine.

Under some conditions waterat any suitable temperature may be admitted through the pipe 91, to form a layer at the top of chamber 4; this water being lighter than the solvent, will always remain at the top.

Since any fine particles of material that may find themselves carried over with the `oil, will rise to the top of the settling or collection chambers, it is preferable to arrange the tops 95 of said chambers so that they can be removed, as indicated in Fig` 7.

It is evident that various changes could be. made in the details throughout this app'vratus by those skilled in the art without i departing from the spirit of my invention,

Iand therefore I do not wish to be understood as limiting the same to the exact details of construction disclosed.

What I claim is y 1. In an oil extracting apparatus, the combination of an extraction chamber adapted to hold a suitable quantity of solvent at a normal jlevel; aninlet for said solvent; an outlet for the mixed solvent' and oil; an inlet for the material whose oil is to beextracted, located and adapted -to deliver saidv material, below the normal vent; a solvent inlet near the top of said ,level of said solvent; and mechanically opfor the materialwhose oil is to be extracted located/between said solvent inlet and outlet, whereby the said'material when admitted to said chamber may automatically rise in Isaid solvent through its own buoyancy;

`mechanically operated means for forcing said material into said chamber; and mechanically operated means for withdrawin the treated material from the to of sai solvent, substantially as describe 3. In an oil extracting a paratus, the combination of an 'extractionchamber adapted to hold a solvent specifically heavier than the material whose oil is to be extracted at a suitable level; a solvent inlet; an oil and solvent outlet; an inlet for the said material located between said inlet and outlet, and below the normal level of said solvent; a screw conveyer for withdraw' the treated material from the top of slari solvent; a shaft in said chamber; and a -series of`- addles attached to said shaft,

substantie, y as described.

A 4; In an oil extracting apparatus, the combination of an extraction chamber adaptedl to hold a. solvent specically heavier than the material'whose oil isl to be extracted, and at. a suitable level, a solvent inlet near the top of said chamber, an oil and solvent outlet near the bottom of said chamber, an inlet for said material between said solvent inletJ and outlet, mechanically operated ,means for withdrawing the treated material from the top of said solvent, a vertical shaft-h I in said chamber, paddles on said shaft, and

stirrers on said shaft between said paddles,

substantially as described. A

5. In an oil extracting apparatus, the` combination of an extraction chamber adapted tohold a solvent specifically heavier than the material whose o1l is'to be extracted and at a suitable level a solvent inlet near the v top of saidchamber; an oil and solvent outlet. near the bottom of said chamber; an in- I let for the said material between said solvent inlet and-outlet; means. for periodically and positively forcing said material through 'said inlet into said chamber; means for dissaid material from saidy chamber;

shaft, substantially as described.

6. In an oil extracting apparatus, the combination of an extraction chamber adapted to contain oleaginous material and solventan inlet for the solvent; an outlet for the solvent and oil; 'an inlet for the material to be extracted situated between said solvent inlet and oil and solvent outlet; means forv forcin said material through said inlet; means or separating said material from 'said solvent near the top of said chamber; means for compressing said separated material; means for drying the same;

^ a shaft in said extraction chamber and paddles on said shaft; and a settling chamber below said extraction chamber, substantially as described.

7. In an oil extraction apparatus, the

-the mixed oil and solvent; means for separating the mixed oil and solvent from said solvent; means for separating the oil from said mixed oil and solvent; means .for returning the solvent. so recovered to said chamber; means for compressing said sepayrated material; and means for drying the same,v substantially as described.

8. -In an oil extracting apparatus, the

combination of an extraction chamber adapted to contain 'oleaginous material and i a so vent; means for separating said material from said solvent at the top of said chamber; restraining paddles" in said chamber; means for separating the mixed oil and solvent from said solvent; means for separating the oilA from said mixed oil and solvent; means for returning the solvent so recoveredv 4 to said chamber;means for compressing said separated material; and means for drying the same, substantially as described.

9. In an voil extracting apparatus, the -combination of. an extractionl chamber adapted to contain oleaginous material and a solvent; an inlet for said materialnear the g bottom of said chamber; means for separa-.ting said material from said solvent at the top of said chamber; restraining paddles in said chamber; a shaft on'which said paddles aremounted; stirrers on said shaft; meansfor separating the mixed oil and 'solivent from said solvent; means for separatg ing the oil lfrom said mixed oil and solvent; ,means for returning the solvent so recov- 'ered to said chamber; means for compressing said separated material; and means for f drying the same, substantially as described. 10. In an apparatus for extracting oil @from oleaginous material, ,the combination :of 'an extraction chamber adapted to conj tain a solvent; an inlet-for the material near the bottom ofthe same; an outlet for said material above said inlet; means for v:forcing said material out o f said chamber; compressing means for said material; connections `between said compressing means and said chamber adapted to return to said chamber any solvent and oilthat -enters therein; a

drier connected to .said compressingmeans.; means adaptedto separate -the dissolved 011 from the solvent andto'V recover the solvent;

iso

a tank for holding the recovered solvent; and means connecting said drier with said tank, substantially as described.

11. In an apparatus for extracting oil from oleaginous material, the combination of an extraction chamber adapted 'to hold a solvent; an inlet for the material; an outlet for the same above said inlet; and a cooling coil for regulating the temperature of said solvent; su tantially as described.

l2. In an apparatus for extracting oil .from oleaginous material, the combination of an extraction chamber adapted to hold a solvent; an inlet for the material; an outlet for the same yabove saidJ inlet; a rotatable 1ter` in said chamber;a collection chamber below the filter; and a cooling coil for regulatingthe temperature of said solvent; substantially as described. Y

`13. In an apparatus for' extracting oil ,26

from oleaginous material, the' combination of an extraction chamber adapted to hold a solvent; 'an inlet for said material; an outlet located above said inlet; a shaft provided with paddles andstirrers in said 25 W. M. OATES, A L. A. BLACKBURN. 

